(Free and ) Open Source Software - (F)OSS - has shown how strong the potential is for people to work together from all over the world to build and share tools we all use, or can use. It's a tremendously inspiring movement - while of course still having some issues that need working on, both technologically and at the sociocultural levels.

I think (F)OSS is an immensely important connector with civic technology, open data and open government - together, they have the potential to build participatory, resilient communities both online and in the physical world :) I have many ideas for how to bring the open government, open data, open source and civic tech communities here in NZ closer together, and see NZOSS as a big part of that.